Straightedge for wall-paper trimmers



Nov. 11, 1930. F. E. EDGREN STRAIGHTEDGE FOR WALL PAPER TRIMMERS Filed Jan. 2, 1930 Patented Nov. 11,1930

FRED EDGREN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS srnerenrnnen non WALL-PAPER TRIMMERS APplicationfiled January 2, 1930. Serial No. 417,997.

, My invention relates to a straightedge of the type more i particularly intended for use in connection with wall paper trimmers and has for its Object the provision of a straight- 15 edge which will not shrink or warp and therefore a straightedge made entirely of metal.

- The invention also has for its object the provision of a straightedge which will have the required strength and which at the same 10. time will not be of too'great weight and which may be easily manufactured and therefore not be of prohibitive cost.

Furthermore, the invention also contemplates a straightedge whereby proper holding 15 of the paper or material to be trimmed will be hadthroughout the length of the straight- The objects andadvantages above outlined, as well as other advantages inherent in the invention, will all be readily comprehended from'the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved straightedge, with an intermediate ,2? portion broken away to thereby show the general construction. I

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1, as viewed by the arrows. I n

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showin a modification of the invention. 1

In the particular exemplification of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main body 10 of thestraightedge is made 35. from a blank of comparatively thin sheet metal of the required length (straightedges of this character beingusually of siX,seven and eight feet length) and width; the longitudinal edges whereof are then bent downwardly so as to provide a main channel member of required depth to permit use of the usual trimming tools at present employed wherein the cutting disk or knife carrying shoe or member has a limited degree of down l ward movement; the channelingof the member 10 at the same time providing it with the requisite strength against pressure.

The outer edge of the device may merely be bent at right angles to the main body portion, as shown at 11-; while the inner or cutting sidevofthe straightedge preferably has the longitudinal edge bent downwardly at right angles to the main body portion to provide the intermediate portion or leg 12, with the lower edge or portion then bent backwardly or inwardly to provide the horizontally disposed leg or portion 13 which extends parallel with the upper or main body portion 10 of the straightedge. p

In order to give the device a more finished appearance and at the same time add to its strength, I provide a metallic filler member 14, whichis preferably made from a blank or sheet of aluminum, which is given the inverted channel formation shown in Figure 5 2, so that the base 15 of the channel may ex- I tend flush with the lower face of the main body 10; and the legs or sides ofthe filler channel 14L- are then bent laterally outward, as shown at 16, 17, so as to extend substantially to the depending longitudinal sides 11 and 12 of the main body 10; the lateral legs or portions16 and 17 being preferably of some width so as to provide comparatively wide bearing surfaces. In order to further strengthen or reenforce the device,.the lateral leg 1610f the aluminum filler member 14 15 shown with the outer longitudinal edge bent upwardly at right an les with thelateral leg 16, as shown at 18in Figure 2, so as toextend flush with the inner face of flange ll of the body member 10, with its longitudinal edge preferably arranged in bearing relation with thelower surface of the body member 10, as shown to theright in Figure 2. I U The intermediate portion 15 of the filler member 14 is then secured to the main body member 10 in a suitable manner, as for example by rivets 19 driven through the members at suitable distances apart throughout the length of the device and preferably along the longitudinal center thereof as shown.

In order to give the device a more finished appearance, while at the sametime adding strength thereto, I prefer to make the top portion of the main body member 10 slightly longer than the predetermined length of the finished straightedge in order that these ends of the top portion may then be bent down- 7 wardly, as shown at 20 in Figure 1, so as to the longitudinal edges may the paper, or other material being trimmed,-

edge.

cover the ends of the filler member 1 1; the downwardlybent ends being preferably made to terminate slightly short of the main longitudinal edges of'the device in order that engage and hold throughout theentire length of the straight- The inner or operating-side of the deviceis then provided with the straightedg track channel or member 21, which is usually made of anon-rusting metalhaving suflicient strength, such as suitable brass. The track member 21 is in the nature of achannel bar of width greater than the thickness of the body 10 in order that it may be placed flush along the edge of the device with the lower leg'22' of thetra'clr channel arranged flush with the bottom of the device; while the upper leg 23,'is preferably of somewhat greater width-thanthe lower leg 2.12 so as to provide a 'ro er track for the usual 'au e ortion. or-

guide-or the cutting or paper trimming. tool.

The width of the channel 21 is such that the upper horizontally disposed leg 23 will extend-parallel with the body 10 of'the device but i-n slight spaced relation therewith, as

shown in Figure 2, so that the trimmer guide mayifit beneath the-flange or leg 23'. V

In. a devlce of this character 1t 1s=essent1al to provide a-nabsolutely smooth surface along sunk as; shown so; as to the inner longitudinal oroperating side of th-e'stra'ightedge so asnot to interfere withthe cutting-bladewhich extends flush with v the-verti'calside of the track channel 21. For that reason, the trac-kchannel 21 is provided with the bottom flange or leg 22 inorder to permit the use of-small screws, asat 24-, for securing-thetrack channel in place. sufficient' number of these i screws are used throughout the length'of the device; and the heads of the screws are preferably counter provide a smooth paper en-gaging bottom surface. The use of screws along'the vertical portion of the track channel 21- is objectionable,-because they are apt to slightly protrudeor become loosened and therefore come into contact with the cutting disc of the trimmer, causing damage to the cutting'edge and necessitating frequent sharpening of'the cutting disc. With the track channel arranged as shown and with the fastening screws located as described, all

a danger of contact between the cuttingdiscandthe screws or burrs on the vertical side of the track channel is eliminated. r

In; assembling the device, the laterally disposed leg- 17 of. the filler member 14 has been shown arranged between the flange1'3fof the body member 10and the flange 22 of the track channel, but it willbeunderstood that the lateral flange 17 of the filler member 14 may be arranged to lap the inner or top surface of the flange13, providing-the lapping flanges 13 and 17' provide a greater amount or thickness of metal for the attaching screws 24 andtherefore ensure greater security.

In Figure 3 the inventionof a'somewhat cheaper construction because' of the elimination of the filler element *l4=. g

In this form. of the device, the bodyv member 25, like the body member 10, is "made from a blanl: of sheet metal of proper length and widtln'to permit'the longitudinal sides to I illustrate a modification of I be bent downwardly atrightangies to form r the flanges 26, 27'; theilow'er edges whereof are then'bent,inwardlyat' right angles, as

shown at 28,-29. Byfbending the lower edge inwardly, 'as.ishown at 28 in.:Fig ure. the device-is providedfwith a paper engaging: surface of sufficient iwidth tofirmly. lrioldrthel paper or material" being trimmed, while at. the same time'the. lateral flange -29ipr.ovides a surface to receive the screws'24uwhereby the;

track channel 21 is secured inplacel at points where there can be no. c nta 'ct withthe cut. tingdisc; V r i In construct-iomthe outer longitudinal side 11 or 2610f the straightedge. is preferably. made of vertical width slightly. less. than theverti'cal width attheforward or;inner.'longitudinalortrack side, thus giving, the: de:

vice aslighttilt'or inclinationgso asto ensure.-

suiiicient' pressure on the. paper or'materialf by the longitudinal side 11 or 26 during trimming operations; the mainmetahbody is given a; suitable enamel finish so as. topre vent corrosion;the enamel coating being {LP-T; pliedbefore the-track channel 21ris-applied;

2 With my invention, a nonswarping, non-1 shrinking straightedge provided whichis not. subject to climatic conditions as is the.

case withzstraightedges. constructed of, wood;

while at the same time a, straightedge is.

1. A; wall paper trimmersfstraightedge comprising an elongated mainbody ofsheet metal, the-longitudinal, SldG-S whereof a re.

track channel member arrangedflush with said; forwardside, with-the sides o sthe. track channel member. disposed;- inwardly ofthe main body one sideof; the, track; channel bent downwardly. at right'anglesg-anda metal v I member being immovably secured to the bottom of the body member, while the other side of the track channel member is disposed in 7 parallel spaced relation with the upper surface of the main body.

2. A straightedge for wall paper trimmers comprising a metallic body member,the longitudinal edges whereof are bent downwardly to provide supporting legs, with the forcomprising a metallic body member whose longitudinal sides are bent downwardly at right angles to provide supporting legs; a metallic filler member of channel formation having its base arranged flush with the lower surface of the body member, while the lower sides of the channel are flanged laterally and said flanges disposed toward the opposite downwardly disposed sides of the body member; means whereby the base of the filler member is secured to the body member; a metallic track channel disposed flush with the forward side of the body member, with the upper flange of the track channel disposed inwardly parallel and in spaced relation with the top of the body member while the lower flange is arranged in lapping relation with a laterally disposed flange of the filler member; and means whereby the last mentioned flanges are secured together.

4. A straightedge for wall paper trimmers comprising a body member made of an elon-' gated sheet of metal, the longitudinal sides whereof are bent downwardly at right angles to provide supporting legs, with the leg at the forward side terminating in an inwardly disposed flange; a metallic channel track member whose intermediate portion is arranged parallel and flush with the forward side of the body member, with the top flange of the track member disposed inwardly parallel and in spaced relation with the top of the body member, while the bottom flange is arranged inwardly parallel with the flange of the body member; and means disposed through said last mentioned flanges on the bottom of the straightedge whereby the track member is removably secured in place.

5. A straightedge for wall paper trimmers comprising a body member composed of an elongated sheet of metal whose longitudinal sides are bent downwardly at right angles to provide supporting legs, the leg at the forward side terminating in an inwardly disposed flange; a metallic channel member whose base is arranged flush with the lower surface of the body member and is secured thereto, while the sides of said channel member terminate in lateral flanges disposed toward the opposite side legs of the body member, with the one flange arranged in lapping relation with the flange at the lower forward side of the body member; the ends of the body member being bent downwardly across the ends of the channel member; a metallic channel track member arranged flush with the forward side of the body member 3 while the flanges of said track member are disposed inwardly, with the top flange parallel and spaced above the body member and the lower flange lapping the bottom flange of the body member and the lateral flange of the channel member; and means disposed through the three last mentioned flanges for removably securing the track member in place.

FRED E. EDGREN. 

